While I realize that bugs are not supposed to have memories much beyond where their last meal was eaten but sometimes I just have to wonder. Back a month ago, I allowed a bird grasshopper to go on its merry way after photographing it. The critter had just shed its outer layer was was highly vulnerable at the moment. I could have easily smashed it to smithereens and saved the garden leaves a good bit of chomping. I figured what harm could one bug do....other than lay a bunch of eggs and create hordes of baby grasshoppers. My hindsight should warn my foresight of these things. Son always tells me that an second of foresight saves a lot of labor whereas a year of hindsight has never done anything. Well, I suppose I will find out soon enough.
But...back to that critter memory....or lack thereof. While out in the garden this morning (and then again this afternoon), I noticed that a bird grasshopper flew to my shoulder. Could this be the same lady that was changing her wardrobe in the fig tree last month? I have no way of knowing but the critter insisted on riding around the garden while perched on my red shirt. After a bit, I gently relocated the bug to the wire arbor. Not once did it shimmy away nor did it try to hide. It merely sat. Then this afternoon while picking tomatoes, the grasshopper once again hitched a ride on my arm. It stayed put as I strolled through the garden and then hopped off when I reached the gate.
Was this the same critter? Did it remember the kindness that I had shown it when it was at its weakest? Was it trying to return the favor in its own way by gracing me with its presence? Probably not on all accounts but it is something nice to think. Then, again, maybe this grasshopper just likes red shirts.
It is that time of summer when I have to meander out to pick figs at dawn and then again at dusk. There is a reason behind this madness and that reason is birds. While I love my songbirds, they need to stop eating my fruit! The two large fig trees stand between the garden fence and the greenhouse but even in those close quarters, dozens of assorted birds gather to munch on the ripe figs. So, if I wish to make any jam for this winter, I have to "be up before the birds" and then do a second picking in the late afternoon.
It was during that late afternoon picking that Mark reached up to bend a tall limb down so I could reach the uppermost figs. As soon as he took hold of the branch, he called my attention to a visitor...or maybe we were the intruders in this case. An Obscure Bird Grasshopper was perched up among the leaves. We had interrupted a very important time for this critter. The grasshopper was still a bit sluggish from shedding its outer layer much like a crab sheds its shell during growth. The grasshopper had outgrown its outer layer and need to shed into its adult size. The process is called molting and is the way insects grow.
Just yesterday, I had remarked to Son that something was munching the upper leaves of the fig trees. I now realize that the Bird Grasshopper was trying to "fill up" so it would survive the molt. Most critters that go through such a molting stage as this, do not eat during the entire process. Their bodies are too soft to seek out food and because of this softness, they try to stay hidden. During their soft stage, they are easy targets for any predators even those smaller than themselves.
Even though these grasshoppers can do much damage to plants, I decided to let it go on its merry way. We let the frightened critter ease its way under a thick batch of leaves as we continued picking figs around it. It was a rather nifty find, though, as seeing both the freshly molted grasshopper and the old shed is a bit unusual. You just never know what might be lurking in the fig trees!
Mark and I were outside this afternoon just taking a leisurely hike about the hillside. It was too hot to do much else. After a bit, we wound up in the garden where we were inspecting the pepper plants. It seems that, while most plants are taking a toll, the weather is perfect for bell peppers. Those things don't seem to mind the temperatures lingering in the high nineties well into the night. In fact, they are thriving. While looking at the plants, it took a couple of seconds for my eyes to focus on the critter that was peering out from beneath the leaves.
A large grasshopper eyed us warily. Did we mean it harm? Were we going to squish it like we do the Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers? Should it attempt a hasty retreat? I am sure fear of the large monsters called people made it a bit leery but the critter sat motionless. It was not until I had taken several photographs of the grasshopper that it decided to escape my attention. I literally had to tap it on its hindquarters before it flew to the nearby garden box. Once in the box, it sat again for a few minutes. Perhaps it was not as frightened as I had supposed it to be. Perhaps I should be happy that this critter is a mere three inches in length!
Tentatively, I have identified this as a "Bird Grasshopper" but I am still at a loss to find out the reasoning behind the name. It could be simply because of its ability to fly so well. This critter, when in swarms of its kinfolk, is known as the dreaded locust that does so much damage to crops. A large swarm of the insects can wipe miles of crops clean. Each plant left behind will be devoid of any leaves. Singly, the grasshopper's pillage is kept to a minimum but when large groups band together, the damage can be devastating. It is now known that the grasshoppers will even gnaw on houses doing much damage to window screens especially. Their strong jaws and sharp mandibles rip holes in fiberglass screening. (If you live where these critters amass, it might be a wise choice to use metal screening on your windows!) The grasshoppers can be ruthless!
Since we have relatively few of these critters on the Bayou, I let this one venture on its happy way. It flew into the top of the peach tree where I am sure to find dozens of munched leaves tomorrow. Come this next spring, I may wish I had gotten rid of this critter but, for now, it goes free.
